Ethical Treatment of a Methadone Client in a Public Detoxification Facility

Ethical Treatment of a Methadone Client in a Public Detoxification Facility

In order for a clearer understanding of the content of this paper I will provide the reader with a very brief history of substance abuse treatment in the United States.

The policy of this country, surrounding substance abuse, has always focused on either the illegality of the substance or in the case of alcohol, moralizing the way the substance is used.

There are two basic approaches to treating substance abuse in the United States today. By far the most popular is that in which total abstinence is the primary goal. This approach could be summarized as a confrontational technique. The client is told that their life is out of control due to the abuse and use of a chemical substance. In a harm reduction approach the client would be supported hoping that they would come to the conclusion and realization that their life is out of control due to use of a substance. Secondly that the substance is the central organinizing principle of their lives, meaning that the individuals focus in life has become obtaining and using the substance of their choice.

(Brown p.27)

In the confrontational approach many tools are utilized: detoxification centers, inpatient substance abuse treatment, residential treatments facilities (half-way houses and therapeutic communities), individual and group counseling. Education is the keystone.

Most of these services focus on the Medical Model of addiction and the 12 Step Model of recovery, commonly referred to as Alcoholics Anonymous. The Medical Model encompasses the basic belief of the disease concept, that the alcoholic is biologically different from the non-alcoholic. The alcoholic, it is felt, can never saf...

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...ose they feel that they have a right to impose their preferred values on the client and dismiss her right to treatment.

In applying Kantian ethics to this situation a breath of fresh air is allowed to blow through the treatment facility. By allowing the client to stay in treatment at this facility the professional staff is given an opportunity to grow. Valuable lessons about all clients

rights hopefully will take root. This should make it easier for the next client with circumstances of treatment that are viewed as different to gain help at this facility. Hopefully the staff will gain insight into their own feelings.

Most of all I think this will benefit the client also for the reasons previously listed on page 4.

Bibliography:

Brown, S. (1985). Treating the Alcohlic: a developmental model of recovery New York, New York, Wiley Press